Nice lunch served in The BRDC Clubhouse was followed by a welcome presentation from Audi detailing the event and then safety briefing from Silverstone on track etiquette, flags and markers etc... cool, we were going to get some real track time in the R8 in it’s different guises, V8 & V10 + Spyder both with manual and Auto boxes, happy days!!

1st session for me, 15mins on track (Silverstone National) in the R8 Spyder Manual… instructor alongside, I had a great blast, wasn’t overly excited by the manual box, been too long with the paddle shift for me and I wasn’t allowed to turn the full ESP off but great fun. Not that I’m out of practice on the manual, used one tracking the R26R at the ‘Ring the other week without issue just feel happier now with both hands on the wheel under hard breaking... so first win of the day for me, now know manual is off the list

2nd session, V8 R-Tronic on a handling/sprint course, head to head in pairs, you know the thing lots of cones, figure 8s, slalom and stop in the box.. fastest three of the day get a couple of laps with multiple GP and Le Mans winner Johnny Herbert in an R8 LMS race car, nice! The V8 sounded a little muted compared to Dave’s (IR8V8) Milltek kitted bad boy and with ESP on this test really did become a demonstration of smooth driving and sensitive control of the right foot being fastest. This “may” have been the reason a young lady won our group beating the other 15 testosterone inebriated males such as me I hated driving the car in full ESP, just didn’t want to do anything I asked of it and watching the instructor do a demo run quite obviously with ESP off showed the R8 loves to drift and is beautifully nimble in a tight area. Didn’t like the hesitation off the line, maybe the ESP doing that as my 6 definitely gets on the move quicker than the R8’s computer would let me!

3rd session V10 Coupe R-Tronic... sadly one of the coupe’s was getting new rubber so I got another blast in a Spyder, great sound but shame as I wanted to have the comparison in body style on track.. hey ho, at least I was re-acquainted with the R-Tronic that I was so unsure about when driven last year.. and... na, I’m still not overly enamoured with it, it’s good but not great by S-Tronic/GTR/SMG/PDK standards and no doubt be top of the Audi designers requirement spec for the face lifted version forecast in 2013.

4th session back to the BRDC for a talk on the ins’ and outs of Carbon Ceramic Brakes before a on track test run... one lap and on the straight pull over to a coned off area to stomp on the brakes... not a great test as even steels would be more than happy to do a gentle lap then get stamped on once every 5min and stopping distance is only down to ABS and tyres under those circumstances, but they looked nice ha ha and knowing what I know would always tick that box if going for a new build!

5th and final was a blast for three laps as a Px alongside one of the pro drivers, these guys work for Silverstone and facilitate the Audi Driving Experience so know the cars inside out, I jumped in a V10 and was hounded round by a guy in a V8 demonstrating to me clearly that on track (short course especially) there isn’t much if anything between the two engine derivatives. I asked my driver what he thought of the R-Tronic, he said he preferred it over the gated manual as that’s what he has in his race car.. but then he was half my age and firmly in the “Playstation Generation” I would think. Also interesting to note the amount of smoke coming off the brakes (steel) but these two cars were getting a seriously torrid time ALL day!!

All done, back to the pits where Johnny turned up to fire up the LMS car and blast 3 “lucky” punters around, each of them needing some help from the buckets and a good blast of fresh air after the experience, interesting fact.. the R8 LMS makes very slightly LESS power that the Standard road going V10 at 520PS against 525PS but OMG you should see what lightweight and slicks do in Johnny’s hands.. astonishing pace!! So, back to the BRDC again for tea, short debrief, goody bag and cruise home.. couple of motorway hours in the RS6 demonstrating just why I love the refinement and power of it but....

Well done Audi... and IR8V8... and DK.. I’m broken, looking for a R8 V10 R-Tronic Coupe as you read this, I’d say 80% of the 60ish people who attended the day with me are doing the same!!

Will post a few more pics up later when home.

AliGod78

Good write up Nige. Looks like an ace day. Just what you needed eh? A extra little Audi nudge in the R8 direction?

That was quick! Currently Pistonheads homepage, very impressive! GLWS.

Thanks, someone will have a right result!

Seraphina6

ust 100 of these Audi R8 V8 Limited Editions coupe models will be released from July – created in honour of the tenth victory for Audi in this month’s gruelling 24 Hours of Le Mans marathon race. They feature the acclaimed 430PS V8, offering 187mph V-max and 0-62mph in 4.6s and come loaded with R8 GT-inspired Titanium finish 19-inch ‘5-arm double-spoke Y design’ alloy wheels and red brake calipers, and inside by trim detailing in crimson red, with exclusive titanium effect paint finish and carbon package options. Standard R8 V8 equipment includes Audi magnetic ride, satellite navigation, the Audi Music Interface (AMI), interior light package, Bang and Olufsen sound system and Bluetooth mobile phone preparation with integrated seat-belt microphones. It will be priced from £93,935 OTR. And in common with all R8 models, the R8 Limited Edition also includes a bespoke R8 Driving Experience at Silverstone Circuit which will "enable owners to fully acquaint themselves with the dynamic characteristics of the R8 in controlled conditions," in Audi speak, or, to have fun with your new toy, in plain English! Looks good eh?